There must be one final end of all human actions, because a human action by definition is one that is done on purpose and for a definite goal. This may be contrasted with merely living for the sake of momentary bodily, social, or even personally gratifying pleasure. I 1155a next would seem properly to follow a dissertation on friendship. Email your librarian or administrator to recommend adding this book to your organisations collection. For no one would choose to live without friends, but possessing all other good things. Find a summary of this and each chapter of nicomachean ethics. He explains what is necessary for complete friendship to exist, including the need for friends to live together in order to see what is lovable in each other and to become more alike. Aristotle steers the convo toward marks or signs of friendship. Friendship, then, is more about loving than being loved, and loving is the virtue of friends. Class may be based on birth and wealth, but happiness which is based on virtue is not, except incidentally. Aristotle once again emphasizes that similarity in virtue is essential for longlasting friendship. In addition, most of these activities are not the main objective, but rather a means to a higher end.
Having said this, aristotle cant end his discussion here, because it isnt enough to study virtue, but to act on what one has learned. Chapter viii confirmation of our view in popular ideas on happiness summary the first principle we have arrived at the definition of happiness given above must be tested logically, as a conclusion drawn from premises, and also in the light of generally held opinions on the nature of happiness, for something that. The work had a very significant impact on the western political thought in general and the ethical studies in particular. Questions for reflection nicomachean ethics book 6. Book i 1 every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, is. Although a flatterer can get insincere honor, it is. Nicomachean ethics, 1101a10 according to aristotle, happiness consists in achieving, through the course of a whole lifetime, all the goods health, wealth, knowledge, friends, etc. In the nicomachean ethics, aristotle makes the claim that happiness is something which is both precious and final. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Aristotle defines friendship as reciprocated goodwill, of which there are three types. This book centers the discussion on the topic of friendship. Chapter summary for aristotles nicomachean ethics, book 8 summary. And surely aristotle is correct in holding that any ideal of human happiness must include within it enduring and. The work, which plays a preeminent role in defining aristotelian ethics, consists of ten books, originally separate scrolls, and is understood to be based on notes from his lectures at the lyceum.
In this video, professor thorsby discusses aristotles nicomachean ethics book viii. Nicomachean ethics by aristotle, part of the internet classics archive. Book 8 this is all about friendship, which aristotle first defines and then breaks down into three types. Like a friendship for utility, a friendship for pleasure lasts only as long. Aristotle s ethics of happiness 1282 words 6 pages. Nicomachean ethics of aristotle, william david ross, tr. Most people live by their feelings, pursuing pleasures and avoiding pains, and they dont have a taste for the fine and truly pleasant. Nicomachean ethics book x by aristotle written 350 b. Chapter 8 virtue and happiness chapter 9 source of virtue chapter 10 defining happiness chapter 11 happiness depends on happiness of others chapter 12 happiness as activity of soul chapter kinds of. Nicomachean ethics quizzes about important details and events in every section of the book. Aristotles nicomachean ethics by michael pakaluk august 2005.
In his nicomachean ethics, the philosopher aristotle tries to discover what is the supreme good for man, that is, what is the best way to lead our life and give it meaning. The internet classics archive nicomachean ethics by. Contemplation is an activity of our highest rational faculties, and it is an end in itself, unlike many of our practical activities. Chapter summary for aristotle s nicomachean ethics, book 8 summary. In the eudemian ethics book viii, chapter 3 aristotle also uses the word kalokagathia, the. For it is thought to be most intimately connected with our human nature, which is the reason why in educating the young we steer them by the.
D download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Happiness, as an activity that serves as an end in itself, is our highest goal in life. Aristotles nicomachean ethics explained with book summaries in just a few minutes. This requires us to make choices, some of which may be very difficult. Happiness in aristotles nicomachean ethics according to the definition of human happiness in aristotles nicomachean ethics the goal of human life ought to be the seeking of happiness, when pursuing all things. Nichomachean ethics is one of aristotles widely read and most influential books. Learn the important quotes in nicomachean ethics and the chapters theyre from, including why theyre important and what they mean in the context of the book. Nicomachean ethics aristotle mcmaster faculty of social. Aristotle sees pleasure, honour and virtue as significant wants for people, and then argues that virtue is the most important of these. The end of aristotles nicomachean ethics declared that the inquiry into ethics necessarily follows into politics, and the two works are frequently considered to be parts of a larger treatise, or perhaps connected lectures, dealing with the philosophy of human affairs. A catalogue record for this book is available from the british library library of congress cataloguing in publication data aristotle. Every art and every kind of inquiry, and like in an lie dou man seelrf wiqe every act and purpose, seems to aim at sorne.
Aristotle explains that mere arguments about virtue arent enough to make people behave decently. He identifies this final good with happiness, and in the rest of book i, asks what happiness is. Reconsidering the nature of happiness lesson page ethics and education. Nicomachean ethics 5 good judge of that subject, and the man who has received an allround. Aristotles nicomachean ethics revision, book eight. Friendships, like virtue, can be expressed through a state of. Friendship nicomachean ethics, books 8 and 9 chapter 9. As already mentioned in the analysis of book one, aristotle holds that the happiness of man can be defined by determining the function proper to man.
In section 8 aristotle examines the currencies of friendship, which are love and honor. For one to understand aristotles point of view, one must first understand the meaning of good and happiness. We should not confuse happiness with pleasant amusement, though. The nicomachean ethics is one of the greatest works of aristotle, the famous philosopher who was really much more of a scientist than a philosopher. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of nicomachean ethics and what it means.
The nicomachean ethics connects virtue to political science and shows aristotles diverse love of wisdom. Nicomachean ethics by aristotle the internet classics archive. All human activities are done in order to attain something that is good. Aristotles observations of society in nicomachean ethics are based on his thoughts about. Our next business after this will be to discuss friendship. At this point in aristotles discussion, there is a pronounced shift from a focus on the individual pursuit of virtue to the role of virtue in relationships. Happiness is the end of all human actions and it determines the ethical behaviour. Aristotles nicomachean ethics 2 books 610 virtues, selfcontrol, friendship, and pleasure. In i 7, aristotle reaches an outline of an answer, claiming that the human good that is, happiness is activity of the soul in accordance with the best and most perfect or complete virtue in a. Conceptions of happiness in the nicomachean ethics. Nicomachean ethics book 8 lesson page friendships importance and nature.
Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Nicomachean ethics by aristotle 350 bc translated by w. But in a secondary degree the life in accordance with the other kind of virtue is happy. Aristotle begins the nicomachean ethics by asking what the final good for human beings is. Ross book x 1 after these matters we ought perhaps next to discuss pleasure.
Superiority of the contemplative life further considered. The first is friendship for utility or pleasure, in which a friend is loved insofar as he or she is useful, not for who they are. But it at once appears that the important distinction is between goods of the soul on the one hand and all rest the good in the body and those outside and of fortune. This is all about friendship, which aristotle first defines and then breaks down into three types. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading nicomachean ethics. The achievement of happiness, according to aristotle, is the end goal of every man.
A summary of book viii in aristotles nicomachean ethics. Aristotles work, the nicomachean ethics, consists of numerous books pertaining to aristotles ethicsthe ethics of the good life. Perfect friendship is the friendship of men who are good, and alike in virtue. Three central ideas or arguments constitute the scope of the book. Friendship is a form of virtue, or at the very least implies the existence of virtue, and in addition is indispensable for human life since man is a social being. Reacting against platos absolutism, aristotle insisted that there are no definitive moral standards and that ethical philosophy must be based on human nature and experience. Its easier to achieve than the happiness we get from moral virtue. This is the book where he indulges in the discussion of happiness, virtue, ethics, politics, and really anything else describing the way in which human beings functioned together in the society of. Aristotle waits until book ten to complete the logic set forth in book one with regard to determining the ultimate good for man by examining a human beings highest capacities. This seems to be so because it is a first principle or ultimate starting point. Although virtue alone will not ensure happiness, it is the only component of happiness never. Course hero literature instructor russell jaffe provides an indepth summary and analysis of book 8. But a difference is observable among these aims or ends.
The second is friendship based on pleasure, where both people are drawn to the others wit, good looks, or other pleasant qualities. Cambridge texts in the history of philosophy includes index. Treating such topics as moral worth, intellectual virtue, pleasure, friendship, and happiness, the nicomachean ethics asks above all. Aristotle begins his study on ethics by asserting that there is some ultimate good which is both complete and selfsufficient, and defines this good as happiness. He explains what is necessary for complete friendship to exist, including the need for friends to live together in order to see.
In this paper, aristotles ethics of happiness and how happiness and reason relate to one another from nicomachean ethics will be discussed. We dont do something because we think it will be bad for us. After this, the next step would be a discussion of friendship, since it is a virtue or involves virtue, and is an absolute necessity in life. They say, however, that the good is determinate, while pleasure is indeterminate, because it admits of degrees. Generally considered the most important ethical treatise in the western philosophical. The first book discloses aristotles belief on moral philosophy and the correlation between virtue and happiness. Aristotle recognizes a social system that ranges from the noble in terms of virtue and wealth to the corrupt lacking moral virtue, base. Books viii and ix of the nicomachean ethics, lorraine smith pangle.